The precursor trough produced heavy rainfall across the western Caribbean Sea, which on Cuba unofficially reached over 7.8 inches (200 mm). Outer rainbands in Pinar del Río Province injured three and damaged 55 houses. In Florida, Barry dropped moderate precipitation across the drought-ridden state that peaked at 6.99 inches (178 mm). The rainfall caused some flooding and wet roads, which led to two indirect traffic fatalities. Rough seas killed one surfer in Pinellas County. In Florida and Georgia, the precipitation assisted firefighters in combating severe wildfires. Overall damage from the storm was minor.

Contents

Meteorological history

Storm path

By late on May 29, a weak trough over the Yucatán Peninsula produced a small area of convection over the Yucatán Channel.[1] Convection increased in association with the trough, and the next day a broad envelop of cyclonic turning developed within the system. By May 30, the moisture from the trough extended from Nicaragua through the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, with the greatest area of convection near Cuba.[2] A westward moving tropical wave spawned a broad area of low pressure on May 30, and by May 31 a circulation developed within the system to the southeast of Cozumel, Mexico. The low moved north-northeastward,[3] and gradually became better organized despite high amounts of vertical wind shear.[4] The deep convection became more concentrated near the center, and it is estimated the system developed into a tropical depression at 1200 UTC on June 1 just to the northwest of the western tip of Cuba. Operationally, it was not classified until eleven hours later.[3]

Animated radar image from Tampa of Tropical Storm Barry passing through Florida on June 2

The depression developed a large area of squalls, and organized enough to warrant a Hurricane Hunters flight into the area.[5] The plane reported flight level winds of 60 mph (97 km/h) and a pressure of 1000 mbar near the increasingly well-defined low-level circulation. Initially it maintained characteristics of both a tropical and subtropical cyclone, although deep convection continued to organize near the center; based on the observations, the National Hurricane Center initiated advisories on Tropical Storm Barry at 2100 UTC on June 1 while the storm was centered about 235 miles (375 km) west of Key West, Florida.[6] Embedded within the southwesterly flow ahead of an approaching mid-level trough, it tracked quickly northward,[6] and early on June 2 attained peak winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).[3]

Shortly after reaching peak intensity, strong wind shear removed most of the deep convection; the cloud pattern consisted of an exposed yet well-defined center surrounded by a curved convective band extending from Cuba along the eastern Gulf of Mexico.[7] The center became elongated and weakened as it accelerated northeastward, and at 1400 UTC on June 2 Barry made landfall near Tampa, Florida as a weakening tropical depression.[8] As it continued inland, it rapidly lost tropical characteristics, and later that day the National Hurricane Center discontinued advisories on Barry while it was located over northeastern Florida.[9] The extratropical remnants strengthened as the system continued northeastward, and on June 3 it moved ashore along South Carolina.[10] Spiral bands developed to the north of the system as it moved up the coast, and a large plume of moisture extended well ahead of the low-level circulation.[11] Late on June 4, the extratropical remnant entered New England,[12] and late on June 5 the remnants of Barry were absorbed by a larger extratropical cyclone near the border between the U.S. state of Maine and the Canadian province of Quebec.[3]

Impact

Rainfall Summary for Tropical Storm Barry

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Caribbean

In El Salvador, the precursor trough produced about 2.76 inches (70 mm) of rainfall in about ten hours.[17]

The precursor system dropped heavy rainfall across western Cuba, peaking at 12.0 inches (305 mm) in Sancti Spíritus Province.[3] Several other locations recorded over 4 inches (100 mm) of precipitation, which caused flooding along rivers and low-lying areas. The city of Guane was isolated after flooding cut off communications. In total, more than 2,000 people were evacuated due to the threat for flooding. Additionally, the precursor disturbance spawned four tornadoes in Pinar del Río Province; the tornadoes injured three people and damaged fifty-five houses, of which four collapsed.[18]

United States

Florida

Barry dropped moderate to heavy rainfall across Florida, peaking at 6.99 inches (178 mm) at Palm Beach International Airport; several other locations reported over 3 inches (75 mm).[10] The rainfall alleviated persistent drought conditions[15] and assisted in combating severe wildfires across the state.[19] In Brevard County, the rainfall closed a portion of Eau Gallie Boulevard after a large sinkhole developed. Several other roads across the area were flooded,[20] and on Interstate 95 near Lake Worth, a sinkhole closed two lanes of traffic.[21] Wet roads caused several traffic accidents across the state; in both Brevard and Volusia counties, a motorist was killed from an accident. On Interstate 4, a tractor trailer led to disruptions near Orlando after it crashed into a guardrail.[22]

The storm produced heavy surf along the western coastline, as well as a storm tide of 4.78 feet (1.46 m) at Clearwater Beach. The wave action caused minor beach erosion, with 50–60 feet (15–18 m) of sand washed away at Bradenton Beach. The increased ocean action caused minor flooding along several roads in the Tampa Bay area,[24] which trapped some automobile travelers.[25] At Indian Shores, a woman died after sustaining injuries from the rough surf.[24]

High winds across the state included a report of 47 mph (76 km/h) near the state's southeastern coastline.[26] The winds downed some trees and resulted in power outages,[27] and one person in Carrolwood was injured after a tree fell onto a house.[24] The storm spawned several tornadoes in the southern portion of the state, some of which damaged fences and power lines. One possible tornado in Goulds left about 2,000 people without power after it knocked down a power line.[15] Another tornado near Miami damaged a few homes and trees.[28]

Rain from Barry in the province of Pinar del Río, Cuba, hurt three people and damaged 55 houses.[1] In Florida, Barry caused heavy rain in an area that had been in drought. Flooding and wet roads killed two people in traffic accidents. Rough seas killed one surfer in Pinellas County, Florida. In Florida and Georgia, the rain helped firefighters fight bad wildfires. Damage from the storm was minor.

Contents

Storm history

On May 29, a weather system in the Yucatán Peninsula created a small area of thunderstorms over the Yucatán Channel.[2] The thunderstorms got stronger near the weather system. By May 30, clouds from the area reached from Nicaragua to the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.[3] Another weather system, called a tropical wave, created a storm on May 30. The next day, a cyclone formed inside the system. The storm moved towards the north-northeast,[4] and slowly gained strength.[5] More thunderstorms formed near the center, and the system became a tropical depression.[4] A tropical depression is a type of storm.

The depression developed an area of squalls (sudden, violent storms with wind and rain). A Hurricane Hunters airplane flew into the area to collect information about the cyclone.[6] At the beginning, the tropical depression looked to be both a tropical and subtropical cyclone. On June 1, the National Hurricane Center named the storm Tropical Storm Barry. Barry was now 235 miles (375 km) to the west of Key West, Florida.[7] Barry moved quickly towards the north.[7] On June 2, it reached its strongest with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).[4]

After Barry reached its highest strength, strong wind shear removed most of the thunderstorms from the tropical cyclone.[8] The center of the system then increased in length, and it began to weaken. At 1400 UTC on June 2, Barry made landfall near Tampa, Florida while it was at tropical depression status.[9] As Barry moved inland, it weakened more. Later that day, the National Hurricane Center said that Barry had died out over northeastern Florida.[10] What was left of Barry continued to move northeast. On June 3, it moved onto shore again, this time in South Carolina.[11] Late on June 4, the extratropical system entered New England.[12] Late on June 5, what was left of the cyclone was taken over by a larger weather system, near the border of the U.S. state of Maine and the Canadian province of Quebec.[4]

Impact

Florida

Barry caused heavy rain in Florida, the most rain being 6.99 inches (178 mm) at Palm Beach International Airport. Other areas reported over 3 inches (75 mm) of rain.[11] The rain helped to get rid of drought conditions.[15] It also helped in fighting bad wildfires across the state.[18] In Brevard County, the rain caused a large sinkhole, a hole in the ground, to open in the middle of a road. Other roads were flooded.[19] On Interstate 95, near Lake Worth, another sinkhole closed two lanes of traffic.[20] Wet roads caused many traffic accidents in the state. In Brevard and Volusia counties, drivers were killed in traffic accidents. On Interstate 4, a tractor trailer crashed into a guardrail because of the weather.[21]

The storm caused stormy seas along the coastline of Florida, with a storm surge of 4.78 feet (1.46 m) at Clearwater Beach. The waves caused minor beach erosion. The high surge also caused minor flooding on many roads near Tampa Bay.[22][23] At Indian Shores, a woman died after being injured by the high seas.[22]

Barry caused high winds in Florida, which reached 47 mph (76 km/h), near the southeastern coastline of the state.[24] The winds knocked down trees and caused power failures.[25] In Carrolwood, one person was injured when a tree crashed onto their house.[22] The storm created at least two tornadoes, including some that damaged fences and power lines. One possible tornado in Goulds, Florida left about 2,000 people without power.[15]

The storm also caused heavy rain in Georgia of up to 8 inches (203 mm).[16] The rain helped put out wildfires.[27] It also caused some minor flooding, and in Savannah, there were a few minor car accidents.[28] Winds blew down some trees and power lines.[29] Heavy rain from the storm moved across much of the East Coast of the United States.[16] High winds also occurred in South Carolina.[30]